CLAUDE LAMOUREUX NAMED CHAIR OF CORDIANT

Montreal, October 2, 2008: Carl H. Otto, Chairman Emeritus of Cordiant, is pleased to announce that Claude R. Lamoureux, FCIA, FSA, has been elected to the Board of Directors and appointed Chairman of Cordiant.

Mr. Lamoureux, a graduate of the Universities of Montréal and Laval, retired recently as President and CEO of Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. Prior to 1990, Mr. Lamoureux was President of Metropolitan Life Holdings.

Cordiant is a leading manager of emerging market private equity and debt funds. Established in 1999, the firm has made over 125 investments in more than 45 emerging and high growth countries around the globe. Its clients include some of the world’s top institutional investors. Cordiant manages three emerging market debt funds and co-manages the Canada Investment Fund for Africa, a private equity fund that provides risk capital to commercially viable businesses throughout the African continent. Cordiant has raised a total of $1.4 billion in subscriptions since inception and will continue to develop new funds in this growing sector.